Hand type-distributer



5 Sheets-Sheet 1..

J. NORTH.

HAND TYPE DISTRIBUIER.

(No Model.)

No. 259,578. Patented June 13. 1882;.

(No Model.)

'5 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. NORTH.

HAND TYPE DISTRIBUTER.

Patented June 13 My PETERS. mwum npher. Wuhington. 11c

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-SheetS. J. NORTH.

HAND TYPE DISTRIBUTER.

Patented June 13 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. (No Model.)

' J. NORTH.

HAND TYPE DISTRIBUTER.

Patented June 13, 1882.

LINN

5 Sheets-Sheet 5;

(No Model.)

, J. NORTH.

HAND TYPE DISTRI-BUTER.

No. 259,578. Patented June '13, 1882.

UNITED ETATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN NORTH, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

HAND TYPE-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,578, dated June 13,1882.

Application filed June 29, 1381. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN NORTH, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesexand State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements inHand Type-Distributors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for facilitatingthe distribution of type by hand into that class of type trays or caseswhich are provided with parallel channels extending from end to end ofthe case.

To such end the invention consists, first, in the combination,with thesupport for the typecase, of elevated hinged tables provided with typeconductin g channels, and hooks arranged to support said tables whenthey are raised to admit of the removal of the cases from the support;second,in the combination, with the typecase-supporting frame adapted tomaintain the type-cases in an inclined position, of an inclined swingingtable provided with typeconducting channels, and hinged to thecasesupporting frame with the discharge ends of its channels in positionto deliver the type into the upper ends of the type-case; third,in thecombination, with the type-case-supporting frame adapted to maintain thetype-cases in an inclined position, of the inclined table provided withtype-conducting channels, the vibratory packer, constructed ashereinafter described, and poised at the upper part of thecase-supportin g frame, and thetreadle for operating the packer, all ashereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of theapparatus, and shows the two type trays or cases and two tables. Thisview shows a snficient portion of the machine to illustrate myinvention, the remaining part of the apparatus being similar to thatshown in said figure. Fig.2 is an end elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 3isatransverse section taken on a vertical plane. Fig. 4 shows one of thechanneled plates that are arranged upon the tables and constitute partof the same. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of one of the elevated tables,and illustrates the lettered plates heldthereon.Fig.Grepresents'aportion of one of the type-cases. Fig. 7 illustratesintwo views one of the sprin g'ehecksthat are arranged in the channels ofthe typecases. Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of thetables with the channeled plates removed.

A indicates the type case or tray, provided with a series of parallelchannels for holding the type. The type-case support consists of a frameprovided withinclined sides and adapted to maintain in an inclinedposition six of these type-cases, three being held on each side of thesupport. It is of course not absolutely essential that provision shouldbe made for holding exactly such number of cases, since more or lessmight be used but that above mentioned is the preferred number.

The type-support B herein shown is mainly composed of a frame consistingof theinverted V-shaped ends B, provided with feet or legs I) andcross-bars 1), these ends bein gconnected together at their tops by ashaft, C, and at their lower portions connected by the horizontal sidebars, D, which are adapted to form ledges for the lower edges of thetype trays or cases to rest upon.

E E indicate shelf-brackets extending laterally from the upper portionof the case'supporting frame B, these brackets being preferably formedby means of horizontal bars secured in position by the longitudinal bars6 e, bolted to the ends of the frame. An ordinary board can be laid uponthese brackets, so as to constitute a shelf, upon which the forms oftype can be placed so that they will be within convenient reach of theoperator. The longitudinal bars 6 0 also constitute rests for the upperportions of the type-cases, which, when seated upon the ledges of thelower side bars and rested against these upper bars, 6, will bemaintained inan inclined position,'ready to receive the type from thedistributing-channels of the elevated tables F. These tables are hung orhinged upon the shaft C, that connects the upper portions of the ends ofthe frame, so that when the said tables are let down into the inclinedposition shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the delivery ends of thedistributing-channels in the tables will come into position to deliverthe type into the channels of the type-cases, and when the said tablesare elevated, as illustrated in Fig. 1, in which one of the tables isshown thus elevated, the type-cases can be readily removed from beneaththe tables. The

construction of these tables is as follows, a description of oneanswering for all:

The table is formed with a succession of steps, ff, on its top, uponeach of which of said steps is placed a glass plate, G, that is formedwith a series of tapering or wedgeshaped type-receiving channels, g,(see especially Fig. 4, Sheet1,) in its upper side. These plates arearranged upon the steps of the tables, so that the larger portions ofthe channels which constitute the entrances for the type will be at thetop, the contracted or converging ends of said channels terminating atthe risers f of the steps. Through the table is formed aseries ofparallel type conducting and discharging channels, H, extending from endto end of the table, the number of such channels corresponding with thenumber of tapering channels in the glass plate, the two said series ofchannels being arranged with relation to each other so that each channelH in the table will constitute a continuation of a tapering channel in aglass plate, and thereby-guide a type from said tapering channel down toa space, H, (see Fig. 3,) at the lower end of the table, at which pointthe heel of the type will strike an abutment, I, formed by a cross-barof the table, and then drop down into a channel of the type-case. Theends of the channels H at the upper end of the table are shown by thewide lines, Fig. 1, and in Fig. 5 these channels are best illustrated bythe dotted lines. By this arrangement it willbe seen that the table,which is provided with a series of inclined parallel type conducting anddischarging channels, is also provided with several rows or series ofshort type-receiving channels, individually converging toward theirlower ends, and arranged to guide the type into thetype-conductingchannels, the receiving-channels being arranged in asuccession of rows above the type-conducting channels, and beingdistributed with relation to such, so that each will discharge the typeinto a separate channel.

As shown in Fig. 5, each channel in the glass plate is indicated by aletter, which can be painted or pasted upon the under side of the plate,so that it will be plainly visible through the same, and thereby enablethe person distributing the type to tell at a glance in which channel toplace the type. It will be understood that the number of tables employedadmits of all of the required letters, figures, and signs used inprinting being thus indicated. The glass plates will lie upon the stepswith their channeled sides uppermost, so that their flat unchanneledsides will lie over the channels running through the table. The loweredges of the glass plates rest against the risers of the steps, in orderto bring the contracted ends of the glass-plate channels coincident withthe channels of the tables at points along the risers f of the steps, atwhich points the type from the tapering channels of the said glassplates will enter the channels in the table.

In distributingtype they are generally damp, and hence it passed over aneven highly-polished surface, such as glass, would frequently adhere tothe same. To obviate this I corrugate the bed of the type-channels inthe glass plates, so as to admit air under the passing type, and thusprevent the exclusion of air between the type and the beds of thechannels. The channels in the glass plates have a downward inclination,as shown in dotted lines 9, Figs. 2 and 3, so that the type can passfreely from said channels into the channels of the tables at pointsalong the riscrsf.

In order to allow only a limited space between the type in the type-caseand the delivery ends of the channels of the table, so that there willnot be room for the type to turn while falling, and also to support thetype in the channels of the type-cases, I arrange in each of the lattera slidable spring-check, K, (see Figs. 3, 6, and 7,) these spring-checksbeing brought nearly to the upper ends of the channels, when thetype-cases are placed upon the support in position to receive the type,so as to admit a few type between the spring-checks and the upper endsof the channels. The spring-checks will be held in the position in whichthey are placed in the channels by the pressure of the spring againstthe walls of the latter. The construction of these devices can bevaried, that shown being a block having a bent spring secured thereto.As a means for forcing these spring-checks down the type-case channelsas the type are distributed into the same, I provide for each type-casechannel a packer adapted to be operated by a treadle, so that as thetype falls into channel the packer can be brought into operation toforce the same down, and hence depress the. spring-check.

The construction of packer employed is that of a double-armed vibratorybar, L, supported upon the shaft 0, the curved arms l lof which arearranged to pack the type in the cases on opposite sides of the support.This packer-bar is provided at its base with a cross-bar, M, 7

at will in either direction by depressing one of the treadles, accordingto which side of the apparatus the operator is standin At the top endsof the main frame of the apparatus I provide the standards P, connectedby a rod, Q, a portion of which is shown in Fig.1, upon which rod Isuspend a number of hooks, B, for supporting the tables in the elevatedposition shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to remove the cases fromthe support.

In distributing the type the operator will take up from the form aconvenient number of type, which may include one or more words, anddistribute the same into their appropriate channels in the glass plates.The enlarged upper end or entrance of these channels renders it an easymatter to place the type therein, and no special care need be exercisedto place the type in a longitudinal position with relation to thechannels, since the converging walls of the latter will right the typeand always direct them heel foremost into the channels of the table. Theinclination of the table causes the type to pass quickly down to thedelivery end of the channels, from whence the type after being checkedin its sliding movement by the abutment, will drop down into thechannels of the cases, wherein they can be pushed down by means of thepacker. The spring-checks constitute partitions in the channels atvarious points, according to the number of types distributed therein, itbeing understood that some letters require more type than others.

In order to close the ends of the channels in which the type arereceived from the distributin g-channels, I provide each case with ahinged strap, R, that is pivoted at its ends to the sides of the caseand bent so as to close the said ends of the case-channels. When thetypecases are placed upon the support these straps can be swung back outof the way, and after the type have been distributed and the tablesraised the straps can then be swung over so as to close the upper endsof the channels, and thus prevent the type from falling out. If thecases are carried to a type-distributer, they will be placed therein inan inverted position, in which case the straps can be swung back,leaving the types at the lower portion of the casechannel. 7

I have described the plates which rest upon the stepsof the tables asbeing made of glass; but it will be evident that metal or other suitablematerial can be used, in which case the letter can be painted or affixedto the beds of the channels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-- 1. The combination, with the support for thetype-case, of the elevated hinged tables F,provided with type-conducting channels, and the hooks arranged to support said tables when they areraised to admit of the removal of the cases from the support,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the type-case-supporting frame adapted tomaintain the typecasesin an inclined position, of the inclined swingingtable provided with type-conducting channels, and hinged to thecase-supporting frame with the discharge ends of its channels.

in position to deliver the type into the upper ends of the type-case,substantially as described. i

3. The combination of (he type-casesupporting frame having inclinedsides, and a rod, 0, secured to the top ends of said frame, with theswinging tables F and the two-armed vibratory packers L, supported uponthe said rod, the cross-bars M, rigid with the packers, the treadles,and the rods N, connected with said cross-bars, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN NORTH. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. N ORRIS, J. A. RUTHERFORD.

